dil-e-diwana-o-andaz bebakana rakhte hain
gada-e-mai-kada hain waza aazadana rakhte hain

mujhe mai-khana tharraata hua mahsus hota hai
wo mere samne sharma ke jab paimana rakhte hain

ghataen bhi to bahki ja rahi hain in adaon par
chaman mein jo qadam rakhte hain wo mastana rakhte hain

ba-zahir hum hain bulbul ki tarah mashhur harjai
magar dil mein gudaz-e-fitrat-e-parwana rakhte hain

jawani bhi to ek mauj-e-sharab-e-tund-o-rangin hai
bura kya hai agar hum mashrab-e-rindana rakhte hain

kisi maghrur ke aage hamara sar nahin jhukta
faqiri mein bhi 'akhtar' ghairat-e-shahana rakhte hain